Tremolo



' 0. 0. LEWIS.

TREMOLO.

APPLICATION FILED lumzza. 1921.

1,426,749. l Patentedl Aug. 22, 1922..

FIG. 1.,

O. O. Lawxs ATroRNEY UNITI-:D STATES ORVILLE o. LEWIS, or coLDwA'rER,KANSAS.

IPArsNr OFFICE. y

" TREMOLO.

` Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug". 22,v 1922.

Application filed .Tune 23, 1921. Serial No.47960.

To all w/wm t may concern l Be it known that I', OnviLLn Lnws, a citizenof the United States, residing at Coldwater, in the county of Comancheand State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Tremolos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which ity appertains to make and use the same. l

The present `invention relates to sound modifying accessories orattachments for stringed instruments, and faimsto provide a deviceattachable'to a violin,`violo, cello or other stringed instruments forcreating a tremulous tone', and for want of a more appropriate name, thedevice hasbeendenominated a tremolo.

Another object is the provision of such 'a device whichis novel inconstruction, and readily attachable 'to a violin or other stringedinstrument, for producing an effective tremulous tone or music when theinstrument is played in the' customary manner.

It is also"an` object of the invention to l providesuch a device whichis also simple and inexpensive in construction, and which can be made tomodify the tremulous eifect in different ways. V i

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, which will be understood asthe description proceeds, the `invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be madelwithin `the scope of what isclaimedwithout departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure1 is a side elevation of the device as applied to the bridge of a violinor similar stringed instrument.

Fig. 2 is a face view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view ghowing a modified form. f

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a box 6 of suitablesize and shape,l and of sheet metal or other appropriate material, andhaving the cap 7 soldered or otherwise fastened thereon. As shown, thebox has opposite disk heads or sides,` and is of circular form.`

The box 6v is securedat its periphery to the free end of a leaf spring8, with the sides or heads of the box in planes substantially parallelwith said spring, whereby the box willy vibrate substantially axiallythereof with the spring;r lThe basal terminal of the spring overlaps andis secured to a U-shaped clip 9, which is resilient to lit over andfrictionally grip the bridge 10 of a violin', violo,

cello or other stringed instrument, to fas-4` tenthe. spring to thebridge for vibration therewith, with the spring 8 and box 7 insubstantially the same plane as the bridge, sothat the box can vibrate`forwardly and rearwardly transversely of the plane of said bridge.

Avibratory spring tongue 11 of suitable sheet lmetal or other resilientmaterial is disposed within the `box substantially diametricallythereof, and is of tapered form, as showmwith its v'wider end freewithinv the box and its narrower end rigidly secured to the periphery ofthe box, at as 12, by means of solder or the like. Thetongue orvibratory` memberl 11v f thus extends from the periphery of the box andintersects the axis of said box. and said tongue can vibrate between thesides or heads ofthe box in substantially the same direction as thespring 8. One side or head of the boxhas a central aperture 13, acrosswhich the tongue: ex-

tends on the inside of the box.

When theclip 9 is engaged over the upper edge of the bridge 10 of aviolinor 'other stringed instrumentv for vwhich the device is suitable,`the vibrations of thebridge, when playing the instrument, aretransmitted by the springv 8 `to `the box 6, which in .vibrating willimpart vibrations to the tongue or reed 11.` Air waves are thereforesetup within thebox, and through the aperture 13, which will render themusic of pleasing and effective tremulous quality. By using` boxes ofdifferent sizes, apertures `13 of different sizes, and tonguesy ofdifferent material and sizes, thequality of tremulous tones can bevaried. Also, as suggested in Fig. 4;, a number of vibrating tongues canbe used withinthebox. Thus, as shown,`an additional tongue 11 is securedto the periphery of the box and crosses the tongue 11, whereby bothtongues can vibrate, and they may be of different pitches.

Having thus `described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Adevice of the kind'described comprising` freely ,fibratory means toengage a vibratory portion of a stringed instrument, and vibratorysound-modifying means supported 'from said means for free vibration andalso having a vibratory portion within itself vibratory relatively tothe firstnamed means.

2. A device of the character described comprising` a spring' havingmeans for attachment to a vioratory portion of a stringed instrument forthe free vibration of said spring, and vibratory sound-inodify irre'means supported by said spring free vibration tliereivith and having,vibratory portion within itself to vibrate relatively to the sprinp'.

A device of the lrind described coinprising` a clip to a vibratoryportion of stringed instruineP-,itr` a spring supported by the clip forfree vibration, and vibratory souiid-modifyin,gl means carried by thefree port-ion of said spring for free vibration with the spring andhaving a vibratori.T portion Within itself vibratory with reference tothe spring.

4. A device of the kind described comprising` a leaf spring forattachment to a vibrator-y portion of stringed instrument to vibratefreely, and vibratory sound-modi.- 't'ying means supported by the freeportion of the spring,v and having' a freely vibrator-y portion Withinitself adapted to vibrate relatively to the spring.

5. A device of the kind tescribed com prising` a clip to lit vibrator-yportion of a stringed instrument, a leaf spring secured to and extendingfrom the clip for free vibration, and a vibrator-y sordid-modifyingmember supported by the free por tion of said spring for free vibrationwith the spring and having a vibratory portion Within itself adapted tovibrate relatively Vto the sprino.

6. A device of the character described comprising a hollow box having anaperture, means for supporting said box from a vibratory portion of a.stringed instrument for the free vibration of said box, and a vibratorymember in said box to create sound waves `til-rough said aperture by thevibration of said instrument.

7. A device of the kind described oomprisng` a hollow boi; having anaperture, means for support-ing;l said bozrfrom a vibratory portion of astringed instrument 'for the free vibration of said box, and a vibratorytongue mounted in said box to vibrate relatively to the box.

8.' A device of the kind described comprising a hollow boi; having anaperture in one side, means for supporting, said box from a vibratoryportion of a stringed instriunent for the free vibration ot said box,and a tapar-ecl vibratory tongue Within the bob: extending` across saidaperture and havinrf; its smaller end secured to the box.

9. A device of the kind described co1nprisingv a spring to be supportedfrom a stringed instrument, a hollen7 box supported by said spring forfree vibration with the spring, and a vibratory member in said box formodifying' the tones of said instrument.

l0. A device of the kind described coniprising a spring to be supported.by a vibratory portion of a stringed instrument, a liolloiv boxsupported by said sprinfD)` for free vibration with the spring andliavinv an aperture, and a vibratory member in said bm: for creatingsound Waves through said aperture.

ll. A device of the kind described comprising a clip to 'it on thebridge of a stringed instrument, a leaf spring1 secured to and extendingfrom said clip, a box supported by said spring and having an aperture,and a vibra-tory tongue mounted in said box and extending across saidaperture.

ln testimony whereof have signed my name to thissneciiication in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

URVILLE O. LEVID.

Vit-nesses:

WV. J, Masnrronn, Gro. S. SiLsY.

